Home Care In Pflugerville, TX

The 127,000-square-foot store, which is slated to open in fall 2024, will have amenities such as a True Texas BBQ restaurant

H-E-B has officially started construction on a new store in Pflugerville. The store, which is expected to open in fall 2024, will showcase all the quality products and innovative services H-E-B customers have come to love and expect.

At 127,000 square feet in size, the new H-E-B store will be located at Pflugerville Parkway and State Highway 130. Upon its completion, it will become the third H-E-B store in Pflugerville, a community north of Austin.

“We are thrilled to start construction our third store in Pflugerville, a growing community we’ve proudly been a part of for 35 years,” said Cathy Harm, H-E-B Senior Vice President Central Texas. “We look forward to serving our dedicated customers in this part of Travis County with a new store that offers a wide assortment of quality products, innovative services, and the best of what H-E-B has to offer.”

Details about the project were shared during a groundbreaking ceremony on July 12. The store’s exterior boasts a modern and distinctive design, featuring neutral tones and various materials. Among the stores many exciting highlights are a True Texas BBQ restaurant, full-service Pharmacy with two-lane drive-thru, Curbside and Home Delivery services with dedicated parking for Curbside customers, as well as a new fuel station and car wash.

The thoughtfully designed H-E-B store will offer a world-class shopping experience with an emphasis on fresh, top-quality food options at H-E-B’s celebrated everyday low prices.

With expansive product assortment and several convenient services customers come to expect from H-E-B, other amenities will include:

With this store, H-E-B continues its commitment to invest in Central Texas communities and support the local economy by providing jobs and career opportunities. For this new store, H-E-B plans to hire and employ more than 500 Partners in total.

Regularly recognized as a top employer in the nation, H-E-B will provide training, competitive pay, and a robust benefits package that includes 10 percent off H-E-B brand products, and career and leadership development. Once eligible, Partners can become a company owner through the H-E-B Partner Stock Plan, can participate in 401k with company match, and sign up for medical, dental and vision plans, among other benefits. Employment opportunities are available across H-E-B’s business. To search for job openings, visit heb.com/careers.

H-E-B is passionately committed to its customers beyond the four walls of its stores, weaving an undeniable Spirit of Giving into its business philosophy. In this spirit and in celebration of the new store’s groundbreaking, H-E-B donated a total of $25,000 with gifts of $5,000 each to American Legion Kerlin-Lyerly Post 154, Circle of Hope Community Center, For the Children Inc., Horse Empowered Learning Programs, and Pflugerville Education Foundation.

In Oct. 1987, the company opened its first Pflugerville H-E-B store at 1434 Wells Branch Pkwy. In June 2000, H-E-B opened its second location in Pflugerville at 201 N FM 685.

About H-E-BH-E-B, with sales of $43 billion, operates more than 430 stores in Texas and Mexico. Known for its innovation and community service, H-E-B celebrates its 118th anniversary this year. Recognized for its fresh food, quality products, convenient services, and a commitment to environmental responsibility and sustainability, H-E-B strives to provide the best customer experience and lowest prices. Based in San Antonio, H-E-B employs over 154,000 Partners in Texas and Mexico and serves millions of customers in more than 300 communities. For more information, visit heb.com and theH-E-B Newsroom.

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n innovative workforce development program in Pflugerville, an Austin, Texas, suburb of 70,000 people, turns high school students into emergency medical technicians (EMTs), saves lives and equips the workforce of tomorrow with marketable skills.

High school students in the Pflugerville Independent School District (PfISD) are taking advantage of these programs. Many are earning industry certifications in a variety of fields from healthcare to manufacturing — a result of the Pflugerville Community Development Corporation (PCDC) and its workforce partners securing more than $1 million in grants for worker training.

The biggest gift came on November 7, 2023, when the PfISD received a fully functional, decommissioned ambulance to use as a Fire and EMT Academy Mobile Learning Lab, enabling students to learn EMT skills while working on the road.

How valuable is this training? Just listen to Hannah Remus tell her story. She is a recent graduate of the program. Today, she is in the field working as a certified EMT.

“Because of the education I received in high school, I am working for a private ambulance company in Austin doing interfacility transports now,” says Remus. “In the spring, I will be hired to work for Travis County to do 911 emergency response work in Austin. This would not have happened without the EMT training I received in high school.”

Remus believes in the life-changing power of this program so much that she volunteers her time to go back into the high schools and teach other students how to become a certified EMT. “I’ve gone back probably once or twice a week since they started,” she says. “I share stories about patients I have helped. I teach students how to apply what they’re learning.”

Remus says the education she received in school prepared her well for her career. “It was amazing because I received so much hands-on training,” she notes. “I got to learn from so many different people in the field. I also learned the pitfalls to avoid.”

From High School to EMT

Michael Anderson, deputy assistant chief of administration for the Pflugerville Fire Department, oversees the program. He says he’s gratified when he hears stories like Hannah’s. “This is an opportunity for young people to go directly into the workforce post-high school,” he says. “We introduce them to public service in the community; many of them now work as certified EMTs.”

Anderson notes that since the program began in 2020, “more than 40 students have received their EMT certification, and 12 became employed with us. Another six graduates are practicing in the field or are pursuing further medical training,” he adds.

One of them is Remus. She says she plans to continue her education and eventually become a fully certified paramedic for Travis County.

“A majority of the training is done right on the high school campus,” says Anderson. “With the ambulance, we’re able to train students on ambulance rides and at the hospital. Students go through the same curriculum that is taught at a community college, so they are receiving a college education in high school.”

Two students have already been involved in giving lifesaving treatment during the course of this program, so the difference in the community is already being made.

“Nobody else has an actual working ambulance in use in training,” says Traci Hendrix, Career and Technical Education (CTE) director for the Pflugerville Independent School District. “Ours is a fully functional vehicle that we can take around to the various high school campuses. We love going out there and seeing the kids’ eyes light up when they see this thing. Seeing students go from learning theory in the classroom to learning in the real world is so rewarding. You see the light bulb go off. We had two students perform lifesaving measures on patients.”

PCDC Nurtures Partnerships

PCDC played a vital role in making this happen. “The PCDC was excited to support our education partners and help put this program on the move so it can provide a realistic training program and literally roll it out at other campuses,” said PCDC Executive Director Amy Madison. “Our grant further amplifies the commitment of our community partnership with the PfISD and Travis County Emergency Services District 2 to nurture the next generation of medical professionals.”

“Seeing students go from learning theory in the classroom to learning in the real world is so rewarding. You see the light bulb go off.”

— Traci Hendrix, Career and Technical Education Director, Pflugerville Independent School District

Since the program’s inception in 2020, the Healthcare-EMT Academy has trained 59 students, while the Fire/EMT Academy has trained 41 students.

“We have also introduced an advanced manufacturing training program in the school district,” says Hendrix. “We are working with Austin Community College. Students can graduate from college manufacturing courses with a level one certificate when they complete their high school degree. They can graduate and already be a leg up in the career field at level two — not entry level. That education can also feed into an associate degree and a bachelor’s degree.”

Hendrix adds that “PCDC has been really helpful in introducing us to industry partners. PCDC connects businesses to our community and our school.”

Thanks to these partnerships, Hendrix says, the first group of students will graduate this year with level one certificates in advanced manufacturing from Austin Community College.

“We are in our second year, and we are seeing growth,” she adds. “This spring will be a heavy recruitment phase. It is now about building capacity.”

Anderson commends the school district for its leadership. “This program is another example of the vision of the school district to expose students to a new career path,” he says. “Pflugerville is working hard and is dedicated when it comes to workforce development.”

This Investment Profile was prepared under the auspices of the Pflugerville Community Development Corporation. For more information, contact Veronica Ramirez at [email protected]. On the web, go to www.pfdevelopment.com.

PFLUGERVILLE — After hearing concerns about the medical care provided to Pflugerville residents by Allegiance Mobile Health, the City Council last week approved an agreement with the city of Austin to supervise the private ambulance company.

During the council meeting Tuesday night, officials from Travis County Emergency Services District No. 2, also known as the Pflugerville Fire Department, expressed concerns about the quality of care provided by Allegiance medics, saying the death of one patient in January was because of negligence.

ESD No. 2 Chief Nick Perkins said oversight is needed as Fire Department paramedics often have had to intervene to provide the high-level care that Allegiance medics have not.

“It’s not uncommon that we do intervene, either preventing unnecessary actions or we help with procedures where an individual provider is not able to do that,” Perkins said during the council meeting. "It breaks my heart. I am concerned about the residents in this city and the care that is being delivered.”

During a council workshop meeting earlier Tuesday, Amanda Baum, Allegiance's regional vice president, said she could not comment on the fatal incident in January.

“(Baum) is not able to comment on a patient dying of a result from care of Allegiance; however, I am not under those limitations, and that did in fact occur," Perkins said later during the council meeting. "That patient did die as the result of the care provided by Allegiance."

Perkins told the Statesman that Allegiance representatives told ESD No. 2 that the employee would be fired. Perkins said he knows that the Texas Department of State Health Services suspended the medic's medical license.

During the workshop meeting, Council Member Ceasar Ruiz said he has heard from residents about ESD No. 2 paramedics taking over at incidents because Allegiance medics did not know how to respond, and that an ESD No. 2 medic received a shock while helping with a defibrillator because of negligence by an Allegiance worker. Ruiz said he is worried that Allegiance responders do not have the proper equipment and training.

Baum said she is aware of only two incidents in which an ESD No. 2 medic was shocked, one due to human error and the other due to a technical failure.

Perkins told the American-Statesman the incidents happened in January and July. He said one was because Allegiance medics did not follow standard procedure, such as calling "clear" to ensure no one is still touching the patient.

"It's an incredibly rare thing that's happened twice in a year," Perkins said. "Obviously, it's concerning for us because, you know, it's our people, our firefighters. We don't want anything to happen to them. We want them to be able to do their jobs. It's just part of a larger issue with the profit model that doesn't have the investment that are needed to ensure high-quality performance from the providers."

Under the agreement approved by the council, an Austin emergency medical services commander will oversee Allegiance's operations in Pflugerville and report to its city manager. The agreement will begin Oct. 1 and end Sept. 20, 2024. Pflugerville officials have the option to extend the agreement four additional times for one-year terms, according to city documents.

Allegiance officials did not return calls for comment after the vote.

The agreement with the city of Austin comes a year after Pflugerville approved a contract with Allegiance to provide the city with ambulance and emergency medical services.

The city of Pflugerville has been wrestling with its ambulance services for years. ESD No. 2 used to provide EMS services to the city until it said it could no longer afford to because of increased call volume. In November 2021, voters in the area outside the city limits approved creating ESD No. 17 to handle ambulance calls in the ESD No. 2 service area. City officials said the district's stipend of about $2.8 million for EMS calls was unsubstantiated and did not put the creation of ESD No. 17 on the ballot. Instead, the city hired hired Acadian Ambulance Services on Jan. 1, 2022, to provide service in Pflugerville.

The city ended its contract with Acadian after only two months, citing dissatisfaction with its quality of service, including inadequate response times. In May 2022, the City Council voted to begin contract negotiations with ESD No. 2 to again provide EMS services, but later that month it also opened negotiations with Allegiance after a few council members said the ESD price tag would be much more than they had been led to believe.

Allegiance began providing services to the city on July 1, 2022. Under the contract, Allegiance has to provide a minimum of four mobile intensive care unit ambulances at no cost to the city. Allegiance has committed to having each ambulance arrive at an emergency scene within eight minutes at least 90% of the time.

More:Allegiance to provide EMS services in Pflugerville

During the workshop Tuesday, city officials received an update from Allegiance on its performance.

Since the contract was approved, Allegiance has installed three stations in the city at 1317 Piccadilly Drive, 1601 E. Pflugerville Parkway and 201 N. Heatherwilde Blvd., Baum said, based on the volume of services needed near those locations. She said the company also moved its nonemergency units closer to the city to a station at 1421 Wells Branch Parkway.

For the past year, Baum said, the company has responded to 5,135 incidents, including 96 possible overdoses and 692 traffic incidents. She said the company also has taken 3,583 patients to a hospital and had 1,089 patients who refused transport.

The average response time for Allegiance during the past year is 6 minutes, 45 seconds, while the national average is 7 minutes, Baum said.

The City Council took no other action but met in executive session to discuss the agency's performance and the agreement between the two parties. The agreement with Allegiance will end June 30, 2024.

Even with a surge of supply and slower demand for apartments in Central Texas, some developers are going full speed ahead on rental projects, including a big new one in Pflugerville, just north of Austin.

The first phase of the new Pflugerville community, called the Merle at Howard, will add just over 440 apartment units. That will be followed by two more phases that will bring the total to about 1,400 apartments and townhomes. All units on the site — 60 acres at 2500 East Howard Lane in northeastern Travis County — will be rentals.

The developers are High Street Residential, Trammell Crow Company's housing subsidiary and a subsidiary of the CBRE Group, along with partner CBRE Investment Management on behalf of a fund it manages. CBRE Investment Management is a global real assets investment management firm with $147.6 billion in assets under management.

The developers have not disclosed the cost for the Merle.

Its first phase will be built on 17 acres. It will have 444 units in 15 apartment buildings and five townhome buildings, Marie Archibald, a vice president in Austin with High Street Residential, said in a news release. The first units are expected to be ready for residents in the fall of 2025, she said.

Rents will be competitive with other projects in the area, Archibald said.

Amenities will include a clubhouse with a work-from-home space; a fitness center; a virtual golf lounge; a pool and cabanas; and a dog park and pet washing stations. There also will be charging stations for electric vehicles and 141 private garages available for rent.

Also planned are pickleball courts, basketball courts, a playscape and jogging trails.

The next two phases will allow for construction of up to 956 additional units, High Street officials said. The second phase likely begin in early 2025, although a timeline is not yet final, Archibald said in an email.

The Merle will be about 3 miles from Interstate 35, 3 miles from Texas 130 and just over 7 miles from the Domain, the large mixed-use development in North Austin known as the city's second downtown.

The Merle also will be less than a mile from the famed Dessau Dance Hall, where such icons as Hank Williams, Elvis Presley, Merle Haggard and many other musicians once played. The late Merle Haggard was the inspiration for the rental project's name.

The Austin area is growing in all directions, and the Northeast Austin and Pflugerville areas are no exception. That part of the region is home to some of the world’s largest employers, Archibald said. They include Dell Technologies, Apple, Samsung Austin Semiconductor, IBM, NXP Semiconductors, Applied Materials, National Instruments and Advanced Micro Devices.

“These large, high-paying employers, coupled with the area’s affordability and easy access to the Parmer Corridor, the Domain and (the Texas 130 tollway) have earned Pflugerville a spot on the map as a top destination for new households in the Austin metro," Archibald said.

High Street Residential expects future residents at the Merle "will be moving both from in and outside of Texas," Archibald said.

Market shifting to favor the renter, experts say

Archibald and local housing experts say there are a large number of apartment units that are due to wrap up construction over the next 12 to 24 months around Austin, particularly in the northeastern part of the Austin area. In the region as a whole, supply is exceeding demand, and that is expected to drive apartment rents and occupancies lower, experts say.

"As the supply of apartment units increases, we expect to see a normalization in lease-up speeds, which had greatly accelerated during the pandemic," Archibald said.

At a Sept. 6 conference in Austin, Jordan Brooks, a senior analyst with ALN Apartment Data, which tracks the multifamily market, said the northeastern Austin/Pflugerville area is expected to be able to absorb the added supply it is seeing.

"It’s true that demand has not kept up with supply in that submarket this year, but I would propose that the story has been more on the supply side," Jordan said in an email. "Apartment demand has actually been more robust for that area so far this year than it was to this point in the calendar last year. The difference has been a steep increase in the number of new units brought to market this year."

The timing of the new supply's arrival also plays an important role, Jordan said.

"The bulk of new units in the Pflugerville region have started leasing in the last few months, so that timing will skew the supply-to-demand ratio a bit until those properties have had time to lease up," Jordan said.

Earlier this year, Charles Heimsath, a real estate consultant who has tracked the Austin-area apartment market for several decades, said he expected renters to see some price relief this year as the pace of job growth slows and the new supply of apartment units exceeds demand.

His latest survey showed the apartment occupancy rate declined to 91.5% in June from 93.9% in June 2022. Rents averaged $1,713 a month as of this June compared with $1,702 in June 2022, Heimsath's survey found.

Across the five-county Austin region as a whole, leasing activity slowed dramatically in the second half of last year, Heimsath's data show.

Last year, 11,707 apartment units were leased on a net basis (that is, taking into account move-ins and move-outs). That's a drop of almost 43% from the number of units that were leased on a net basis in 2021 (20,492 units), Heimsath's figures show.

Despite the decline, that 11,707 number marked the second-highest year of net leasing activity, Heimsath said.

"Slower job growth is the main reason for the drop-off in absorption (of rentals) in the second half of the year," Heimsath said. "Job growth is continuing, but at a slower pace due primarily to layoffs in the tech sector." Experts have said the pace of people moving here into apartments has slowed as well.

As a result, Heimsath predicted several months ago that rents, on average, will drop by at least 5% by the end of the year, which could mean gross rents settle at an estimated $1,628 a month.

"For the first time in many years, landlords will be willing to work with their existing tenants as lease renewals come up." Heimsath said.

For more than 10 years, a Pflugerville couple has been turning their front yard into a little North Pole in Central Texas.

PFLUGERVILLE, Texas — Every year, Santa Claus has a long list of appearances he makes across the country before Christmas Eve, but one place he never forgets to visit is Pflugerville.

"He would never quit this," said Deborah Dahl, Santa’s helper. "It brings us so much joy. We have so much fun doing it."

For over 10 years, Dahl has helped Santa set up his own little North Pole in Central Texas.

"About 11 years ago, we took a great grandchild to the mall, and the pictures were $25," Dahl said. "And I told my husband some families can't afford that, and so we decided to make a place where families could come for free and take pictures."

It’s something they start preparing for in October each year. But it’s not only a treat for the kids to enjoy.

“It brings joy to the neighborhood, and people look forward to it,” she said.

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Dahl said people come to visit from all the surrounding cities and counties. They have even seen people visiting family in Pflugerville from Canada and Peru. The line of kids and families waiting to see Santa keeps growing every year.

“We might have seen, I don’t know, 30 people the first year,” Dahl said. “We were so excited when somebody would stop in.”

Now this year, they’ve had over 600 kids visit and a little over 1,300 people in total.

While kids are there, they can drop off a letter to Santa and pick up a small treat before the holiday. They also have a donation jar for the American Legion Auxiliary, which helps veterans and families of veterans.

But Santa isn’t on his sleigh in Pflugerville forever.

“Our last day is always the 23rd because Santa’s too busy on the 24th,” Dahl said.

So if you missed him this year, there’s no doubt he’ll make an appearance in Central Texas again next Christmas. His first visit is always the first Friday after Thanksgiving.